Duck, Duck, Goose – Part 4 – Haven (NSFW)

This story contain’s sexual content, violence, coarse language and consumption of alcohol it is rated R.By continuing to read you hereby verify that you are 18 years or older.

Duck, Duck, Goose – Haven

I stayed toward the water’s edge and sadly, I put the phone in the dammed waterproof pouch. It wasn’t practical to use, but the last thing I wanted to do was go back to that store again today. The ducks were joined by two regal looking trumpeter swans. I’m assuming a mated pair. I can’t say what it is about waterfowl but they cheer me up. Even if they spend so much time in dreaded water. There was one Canadian goose in the mass of quacks and paddling birds. The other geese were on the others side of the large city pond.

I got a text from Gill and had to take my phone out and stepped back from the water.

“Where R U?”

“@ park. Ducks.” I replied.

He would know where I meant. We’ve come here together a few times.

“Stay put. Try not to fall in.”

I frowned at the text. “Meaning?” I sent back.

“Warren just told me what happened.”

“U know him?”

“…Yes. 5 mins.”

Perfect, I bet Gill told Warren about my ‘downsizing’ how embarrassing. Well, at least my brother knew about my super crappy day. I was looking forward to seeing Gill. I’m sure his wife Susan would understand if he spent some time with me after work. I secured my phone, perched on the end of the bench that was dry and hoped he wasn’t going to lecture me about being rude to Warren.

I looked down the path I knew Gill would come down and admired the well-dressed man who approached instead. I shouldn’t be surprised to see Warren headed my way, but I was. Why is he bothering? Guilt maybe?

Warren chuckled as he approached and I noticed he had slight dimples when he smiled. “I see you managed not to go swimming with the ducks.”

I shrugged. “It’s still early.”

He reached down toward my face, and I had instant flutters. I’m attracted to him. I could feel the heat flush to my cheeks as he brushed a wayward strand of hair from my face.

He stared at me for a couple seconds as if in pain or confused. “Dinner. You had no choice to ditch lunch, but I want to take you to dinner Haven.”

“No thanks.” I got up and started walking away.

“Why not?” He kept pace with me.

“Because I’ve had a shitty day and I don’t want company.” I’m such a liar.

I didn’t want to be alone. The more time I had to think, the more jumbled my emotions became. He came all the way here to find me, I should be nice to him. Only because I liked him, I couldn’t be nice.

“I see. You’re not a very good liar Miss Tatum, but I can take a hint. Good evening.”

He walked away, and I bit both my lips. My friends were all busy with work or family stuff since it was a Monday. I can be bitchy, but Warren didn’t deserve it.

Pride slipped in to take control to keep my mouth shut and not call after him. I sniffled as my emotions from the past few days tripped me up. Stewart was a long time coming, and I hadn’t actually planned to dump him on the hike. We went to see if we could try to have fun together. It wasn’t fun. Stewart said something astronomically insulting that set me off, and my set my temper loose. I let him have it and even hit him after he shoved me. It was everything after that that was bugging me.

I started walking toward the gravel parking lot near the road that would lead me home. Warren was opening the door of a silver car when the blue one nearest the path spun its tires spraying me with mud and stones. I raised my arms to shield my face, stepped back, lost my footing as I was pelted with more muck, and fell on my ass into a three-inch deep puddle.

The offending car drove off once it caught traction and sped out of the parking lot. That was it I couldn’t take anymore. I sat there in the mud puddle laughing and crying like a lunatic. I ineffectively wiped the muddy gravel from my face with equally muddy hands.

“I’ve got you,” Warren said.

For the second time in one day, I was pulled to my feet from disgusting water by the same man. I stopped laughing and crying and just wanted to shut myself in my apartment and never come out again.

“Keep your eyes closed. This will be cold.”

I sputtered as cold water splashed my face and kept running down it. The shock of the cold water down my chest and stomach made me gasp.

“Hold out your hands.”

I did as told and felt the cold water hit my hands. I wrung them under the water to get the mud off.

“There.” He said gently. “Now take this.”

I felt soft fabric in my hands, I wiped my face an opened my eyes.

“Are you okay, Haven?”

“I’m wholeheartedly sick of you having to ask me that.”

“I’m wholeheartedly sick of having to ask.”

We stared at each other a moment then started laughing as others watched from a safe distance with concern. It isn’t every day you see grown woman sprayed with muddy gravel then laugh-cry in a huge mud puddle that may have enough room to house fish.

“I need a drink,” I muttered as I looked at the t-shirt in my hand.

“It’s clean, well it was before I handed it to you. I was going to go to the gym later.”

“Ah. Thanks.”

“Can I give you a ride home?”

“I’m covered in mud.” I looked at the shiny silver car.

“It’s a rental.”

I debated all of a minute. My leg hurt, and I wanted to get home to yet another shower. I sat in the back, on his t-shirt as Warren drove me home. During which he convinced me to go to dinner and promised me a drink. I agreed reluctantly, and now he sat on my couch waiting for me to de-mud. It was weird to be conflicted. He was a kind man, attractive, funny and my personal saviour of late. The problem is fear. Logic and want both take the backseat when fear drives the car. Damn.

After my unplanned mudbath and consequent shower, I came out dressed and brushing my hair.

“I think I’m waterlogged,” I said to Warren as he waited patiently for me.

He turned and smiled making my heart skip a beat. Whoa, that was unexpected. Maybe it wasn’t since we’d met I’ve been trying not to notice him, and I haven’t exactly been myself with all the bad luck. I glanced out the Livingroom window to the now pouring rain. My mood soured instantly.